Twitter suspends 235,000 terror promoting accounts

Twitter has suspended 235,000 accounts for promoting terrorism in the past six months, the company has said.

Earlier this year, the social media giant announced it had suspended more than 125,000 accounts since mid-2015 for violating its ban on violent threats and the promotion of terrorism.

The company said in a statement posted online on Thursday: "While our work is not done, today we are announcing that we have suspended an additional 235,000 accounts for violating our policies related to promotion of terrorism in the six months since our February 2016 post.

"This brings our overall number of suspensions to 360,000 since the middle of 2015. As noted by numerous third parties, our efforts continue to drive meaningful results, including a significant shift in this type of activity off of Twitter."

Twitter said there has been an 80% rise in suspensions with spikes immediately following terror attacks, while its global public policy team has formed partnerships with organisations working to counter extremism online.

"We continue to work with law enforcement entities seeking assistance with investigations to prevent or prosecute terror attacks," the statement added.

The announcement comes as hate preacher Anjem Choudary faces jail for drumming up support for Isis.

His official account is no longer visible online after his conviction was reported for the first time on Tuesday.

The 49-year-old amassed 32,000 followers and his Old Bailey trial heard how British authorities tried and failed to get his posts taken down in August last year and the following March.

The father-of-five was a leading figure in the since-banned extremist group al-Muhajiroun, and his followers have gone on to be involved in terrorist plots including the murder of soldier Lee Rigby.